I became Emeritus Professor of Economics in June 2015, and was appointed as (part-time) Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute from September 2015. In the 30 months to end May 2015 I had been the Director of the International Public Policy Institute, and prior to that had served several terms as Head of Department of Economics, Director and Research Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI).  My current research interests include the impact of fiscal autonomy on the Scottish and UK economies, and modelling energy-economy-environment interdependence, including the economic and environmental impact of renewables technologies at the regional and national levels.

I currently have a policy-relevant research portfolio that includes grants from: the ESRC’s  ‘Future of Scotland and the UK pre- and post- referendum’ initiative; two energy-related EPSRC grants: Supergen  Wind Energy Hub and Energy Efficiency; the Scottish Government through ClimateXChange, a Centre of Expertise in Climate Change, and the Office of the Chief Economic Advisor (OCEA), which has adopted one of FAI’s economic models for policy analysis.  I have published widely in books and professional journals, including, most recently: Environment and Planning A, Journal of Regional Science,Energy and Environmental Science, Economic Modelling, Energy Policy, Marine Policy, Regional Studies and Higher Education Studies. I have held visiting academic posts in Germany, Japan, Sweden and the US and had consultancy experience in the Middle and Far East.